Package and device for the preparation of food product such as beverage

ABSTRACT

A package for a portion of liquid foodstuff dilutable with a diluent includes a reservoir for containing a portion of liquid foodstuff dilutable with a diluent, a reservoir seal for closing the reservoir, a mixing element for mixing the dilutable liquid foodstuff with the diluent. The mixing element includes a mixing chamber having an outflow aperture for dispensing liquid foodstuff diluted with the diluent, a liquid passage for feeding dilutable liquid foodstuff from the reservoir to the mixing chamber, and a feed channel for feeding diluent to the mixing chamber. The feed channel has a first portion and a second portion, the cross section of the second portion being smaller than the cross section of the first portion and be so configured that when diluent is fed to the mixing chamber, a venturi effect occurs in the mixing chamber.

This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No.12/223,815 filed on Dec. 10, 2008, which is the national phase of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/NL2007/000046 filed on Feb. 16, 2007,and which claims priority to Application No. 1031177 filed in TheNetherlands on Feb. 17, 2006. The entire contents of all of the aboveapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

The invention relates to the preparation of a food product suitable forhuman consumption. In a preferred embodiment the invention relates tothe preparation of a beverage or component of a beverage, in particularthe preparation of milk froth. The invention is suitable in particularfor the preparation of milk froth for a cappuccino.

In the invention use is made of a package, which is preferablydisposable, filled with a portion of dilutable liquid foodstuff or aliquid ingredient to be mixed with a base liquid.

The invention also proposes a device which can be used in combinationwith the package.

A disposable package with a reservoir filled with a portion of dilutableliquid foodstuff or liquid ingredient is known. In a known embodiment aseparate mixing element, provided with a mixing chamber, is fixed on thereservoir made of plastic. A vacuum is produced in the mixing chamber bycreating a venturi effect, so that the dilutable liquid foodstuff or theliquid ingredient is drawn out of the reservoir. This known package iscomplex and consequently expensive to produce. In addition, the knownpackage requires many assembly steps during its production, whichincreases the cost even further.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved package.

Another object is to provide a package which can be mass-produced atrelatively low cost.

Another object is to provide a package which can be handled in anattractive manner on a filling unit for filling the package, for examplewith a milk ingredient.

Another object is to provide a package which is reliable when it is amatter of food safety.

Another object is to provide a package which is easy for the user touse, particularly for use by a consumer in the home.

In order to achieve one or more of the abovementioned objects, theinvention according to a first aspect thereof provides a package.

In the package according to the first aspect of the invention theplastic body is produced in one piece by means of injection moulding.This means that a separate assembly step is no longer necessary in theproduction. Making the body of one piece also means that the shape ofthe mixing element or column can be kept relatively simple because noassembly is required. Furthermore, sealing problems do not occur in sucha monolithic construction.

In an advantageous embodiment the body has a bottom, and the mixingelement or column is connected directly to the bottom. The mixingelement or column then in fact stands in the reservoir.

The bottom preferably has a flexible portion. The mixing element orcolumn can consequently be moved, preferably particularly in thevertical direction, relative to a non-flexible portion of the bottomand/or relative to the circumferential wall. This possibility ofmovement can be used for opening or otherwise activating the package, aswill be explained further.

In a possible embodiment the flexible bottom portion is provided in theform of a protuberance.

Provision can also be made for the flexible bottom portion to be of abistable design. The mixing element or column in that case has a firststable position and a second stable position, which is preferably lowerthan the first stable position.

For example, the protuberance projects upwards in the reservoir in thefirst stable position and downwards relative to the reservoir in thesecond stable position. The protuberance of the portion of the bottomconcerned makes it possible to move the mixing element or columnconnected to said protuberance into another, lower position relative tothe remainder of the reservoir. This possibility of movement can be usedfor opening or otherwise activating the package and assists with theemptying of the reservoir.

The movable arrangement of the mixing element or column is used in anadvantageous embodiment for opening the package, notably for opening aseal on the underside of the package in that way.

In an advantageous embodiment a breakable or removable seal, for examplewith a plastic film or plasticized aluminium foil, is provided at theoutlet aperture situated on the underside of the package. Said seal is,for example, connected to a rigid portion of the bottom, in other wordsa portion of the bottom lying around the flexible portion. In theinitial position, which can correspond to the first stable position if abistable protuberance has been provided, the protuberance projectsinwards in the reservoir. Pressing the mixing element or column down nowcauses the protuberance to be moved downwards. In the case of a bistableprotuberance the latter is preferably taken into its second stableposition as a result, in which case the protuberance points outwards.The underside of the mixing element or column is also moved down in theprocess, and in doing so pierces the bottom seal, which is applicableparticularly if a sealing film or foil is provided. In anotherembodiment of this seal it is, for example, the case that the downwardmovement causes the seal to be pushed away to the side. For example, asealing element with a hinged arm is fixed on the underside of thepackage, in such a way that during downward movement said sealingelement swings away out of the path of the dispensed jet.

In an advantageous embodiment the mixing element or column is placedsubstantially in the centre of the reservoir. It has been found inpractice that a good discharge out of the package can be achieved inthis way.

In one embodiment the circumferential wall forms a filling aperture onthe upper side and a reservoir seal or top seal which protects thecontents of the package from the atmosphere is provided there. In thisway the reservoir can be filled through a relatively large fillingaperture, after which a top seal can be placed in a simple manner, forexample with known equipment for placing a film or foil seal over anaperture on the upper side of a plastic package.

It is advantageous if the reservoir seal or top seal is breakable at theposition of the channel, notably can be pierced or removed by a lance.

It is not necessary for a seal also to be present between the reservoirand the channel. The absence of such a seal leads to a simplerproduction of the package.

The package according to the first aspect of the invention, through itssimple production and possible low cost, is suitable for mass productionand as a disposable package for a single use.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a package is provided. Inthe case of this package provision is made for the column—through theengagement of a base liquid feed lance on to the column—to be moved froma higher initial position higher to a lower dispensing position.

This movability of the column has already been described and explainedabove with reference to the preferred embodiments of the packageaccording to the first aspect of the invention. In that first aspect ofthe invention the body of the package is made monolithically of plasticmaterial. That construction detail is an advantageous embodiment, but isnot essential in the case of the package according to the second aspectof the invention. In particular, a package according to the secondaspect of the invention could be made of several components which areassembled. For example, in the case of the package according to thesecond aspect of the invention the column is made separately and fittedlater on the component forming the circumferential wall and bottom ofthe package.

For example, the package according to the second aspect of the inventionis designed specifically for multiple use. For example, this package isdishwasher-safe.

For example, the circumferential wall and an annular part of the bottomare made of metal, such as stainless steel, the flexible portion of thebottom being formed by a suitable elastomeric component, and the columnbeing also of stainless steel or another suitable material. Such apackage can have a large filling aperture on the upper side, for examplejust as explained in the case of suitable embodiments of the packageaccording to the first aspect of the invention, but the filling aperturecan also be smaller or can be in a different place. For example, thepackage can have a cover (preferably removable or hinged) with a holeabove the column, so that a lance can act upon the column. When thecover has been removed or is open the user can then fill the package andput on or close the cover, and can then place the package in a suitabledevice.

The invention furthermore relates to a system for the preparation of afood product suitable for human consumption.

The invention also relates to a device for preparation of a beverage.

The invention also relates to a device for preparation of a food productsuitable for human consumption.

The device has a holder for accommodation of a package according to theinvention.

The device can also be provided with several holders for simultaneousaccommodation of several packages according to the invention or ofseveral types of holders, for example one for accommodation of a packageaccording to the invention and one for another type of package, forexample a coffee pad.

The invention also relates to such a device which does not accommodate apackage according to the invention, but two different packages,preferably single-portion disposable packages, the device having, forexample, a lance which connects to a channel in one of said packages andthen, on the basis of some suction effect or other, draws a liquidingredient out of the reservoir of said package and subsequently mixesit with liquid, such as (hot) water, supplied through the lance. Apackage according to the invention is preferred here. The first andsecond package can preferably be placed by the user in a common holder.

The device preferably has a water feed means which connects to a feedlance for the diluent or base liquid. The lance and the holder for thepackage(s) are preferably movable relative to each other by means ofsuitably designed controllable movement means of the device.

The lance and the package(s) can be moved relative to each other, forexample when the user closes the device after placing the package in thedevice. In that case the operable displacement means are operated byclosing the system. It is, however, also possible for the lance and thepackage(s) to move relative to each other when the user actuates thesystem, for example by means of a push button. In that case the operabledisplacement means are operated by activating the system.

In an advantageous embodiment the lance is adapted to break or remove aseal provided over the channel of a package. During insertion of thelance into the inlet of the channel the lance can pierce and/or pushaway the seal.

In a further advantageous embodiment the lance is equipped to act uponthe mixing element or column in order to deform the flexible portion ofthe bottom of a package and thus take the mixing element or column intoa different position, preferably downwards relative to the initialposition.

For instance, during use of a package with a protuberance, bistable orotherwise, in the bottom said protuberance can be taken from the firstposition into the second position by the lance. During this process anyseal which may be present over the outflow aperture of the package canbe broken or removed.

Apart from that, it is also possible to realize a reusable package onthe basis of the package according to the first aspect of the invention.

The package can be used, for example, for preparing coffee, cappuccino,drinking chocolate, broth, fruit juice or soft drinks.

It is advantageous if the package is sterilizable, because in that casethe contents of the package do not have to be subjected to a hightemperature for a long time. If the package is filled with, for example,concentrated milk or concentrated orange juice, this is beneficial forthe quality and the taste of the contents.

Packages according to the invention and also devices and systems aredescribed further in the claims and will be described below in anon-limitative way with reference to the appended drawing.

The drawing shows in:

FIG. 1: a first embodiment of a package according to the invention, incross section;

FIG. 2: the embodiment of the package according to FIG. 1 in a deviceaccording to the invention, in a first phase of use;

FIG. 3: the embodiment of the package according to FIG. 1 in a deviceaccording to the invention, in a second phase of use;

FIG. 4: the embodiment of the package according to FIG. 1 in a deviceaccording to the invention, in a third phase of use;

FIG. 5: the body of a second embodiment of the package according to theinvention, in a view from the top in perspective;

FIG. 6: the body of FIG. 5 in a view from the bottom in perspective;

FIG. 6 a: the illustration of FIG. 6 with bottom sealing film;

FIG. 7: the body of FIG. 5 in vertical section with the column in theinitial position;

FIG. 8: the body of FIG. 5 in another vertical section;

FIG. 9: a detail of the body of FIG. 5 on a larger scale in the initialposition of the column;

FIG. 10: a part of the body of FIG. 5 with the column in the dispensingposition;

FIG. 11: diagrammatically an example of a device suitable forcombination with a package according to the invention;

FIG. 12: diagrammatically an example of a holder for the systemaccording to the invention;

FIG. 13: diagrammatically in section the holder of FIG. 12 andcorresponding parts of the device of the system according to theinvention;

FIG. 14: diagrammatically an example of an alternative device suitablefor combination with a package according to the invention;

FIG. 15: diagrammatically a part of an example of an alternative systemaccording to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a package 1 according to theinvention. The package 1 comprises a reservoir 10 and a mixing elementor column 30. The reservoir 10 is intended for the accommodation of adilutable liquid foodstuff or liquid ingredient for a foodstuff suitablefor human consumption. The package can be filled with, for example, aportion of concentrated milk, concentrated fruit juice or concentratedbroth.

The reservoir 10 is preferably filled approximately ⅔ full, preferablythrough the aperture formed by the circumferential wall on the upperside of the package 1. The reservoir 10 is then closed by a reservoirseal 13.

The reservoir seal 13 is preferably a suitable film, for example aplastic film and/or metal foil (possibly multi-layer).

The reservoir seal is preferably slightly elastic, for example throughthe use of a PE film. The sealing film 13 is preferably fixed by meansof a fusion weld on the upper edge of the circumferential wall of thepackage 1. On a closed package the reservoir seal 13 is fixed on thereservoir by means of the sealing edge 14.

The reservoir 10 has a bottom 11 and a circumferential wall 12. Thecircumferential wall 12 is preferably of a slightly tapered design, theremaining shape of the package preferably being such that the emptypackages 1 which are not yet filled and provided with a sealing film arenestable.

For making, for example, milk froth for the preparation of cappuccinothe package has a circumferential wall with a diameter of 55 millimetresand a height of 23 millimetres.

The package can be made of food-grade plastic, for example PP or PE.

It is not necessary also to provide a seal between the reservoir 10 andfeed channel 31, for example by connecting the reservoir seal 13 also tothe upper edge 39. If such a seal is not present, liquid foodstuff canrun into the feed channel 31, for example during conveyance of thepackage, but during use it is flushed out again by the diluent or baseliquid. The absence of a seal between the reservoir 10 and the feedchannel 31 makes production of the package according to the inventionconsiderably simpler.

The bottom 11 of the reservoir 10 in this example is stiffened by meansof stiffening ribs 16. A number of stacking lugs 17, for example three,are provided on the inside of the circumferential wall 12. The stackinglugs 17 ensure that damage is not caused to the mixing element 30 duringthe nesting of empty packages 1.

In the example shown the package 1 is substantially disc-shaped. Acircular symmetrical shape such as a disc has the advantage that thepackage can be placed in any desired orientation in a holder. If aparticular orientation is still desired, the circular symmetrical shapecan be departed from, so that the package can be placed in only one wayin the holder.

It can be seen clearly in FIG. 1 that a protuberance 15 is provided inthe bottom 11 of the package 1. The mixing element 30 is present on saidprotuberance 15.

The feed channel 31, with inlet on the upper side of the mixing element,is formed in the mixing element 30 during the injection moulding, and amixing chamber 34 is also co-moulded during the injection moulding.Liquid foodstuff or ingredient from the reservoir 10 can be mixed with adiluent in said mixing chamber 34. The liquid foodstuff or ingredientfrom the reservoir is fed to the mixing chamber 34 through one or moreducts or passages 35, here a single passage 35, formed in the mixingelement during the injection moulding. The diluent or base liquid is fedto the mixing chamber 34 through the feed channel 31.

The feed channel 31 has a first portion 32 and a second portion 33. Ascan be seen clearly in FIG. 1, the second portion 33 of the feed channel31 has a cross section which is significantly smaller than the crosssection of the first portion 32 of the feed channel 31 and of the mixingchamber 34. The ratio between the cross sections of the two portions 32,33 and the mixing chamber 34 is selected in such a way that whendiluent, for example water, is fed in through the feed channel 31 to themixing chamber 34 a venturi effect occurs in the mixing chamber 34. Saidventuri effect creates a vacuum in the mixing chamber 34, with theresult that liquid foodstuff flows out of the reservoir 10 throughpassage 35 into the mixing chamber 34. The turbulence as a result of theventuri effect also ensures good mixing of the liquid foodstuff oringredient from the reservoir 10 with the diluent or base liquid.

The selection of the cross section of the passage 35 in relation to thecross section of the second portion 33 of the feed channel 31 partlydetermines the mixing ratio between the liquid foodstuff or ingredient,on the one hand, and the diluent or base fluid, on the other hand.Making the parts of the injection mould that determine the respectivecross sections removable from the mould means that these cross sectionsare relatively easy to change.

The mixture leaves the mixing chamber 34 through the outflow aperture 36on the underside of the package 1. When the package is closed saidoutflow aperture 36 is sealed by a suitable seal 37. Said seal 37 can bein various forms. An example is a cap or a sealing film or foil, whichis removed by the user before use. The seal can also be removed orbroken automatically when the package is placed in a suitable deviceaccording to the invention and the device is then activated.

It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the second portion 33 of the feed channel31 in this illustrated embodiment does not connect up to the lowestpoint of the first portion 32 of the feed channel 31. This means that adead space 38 is produced. Any sediment from the liquid foodstuff to bediluted can settle in said dead space 38 without the second portion 33of feed channel 31 becoming blocked.

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the package 1 according to FIG. 1 in adevice 50 according to the invention, in a first phase of use.

The device 50 according to the invention comprises a holder 55, in whicha package 1 according to the invention can be placed. FIG. 2 shows apackage 1 placed in the holder 55. The holder 55 is situated in a lowposition, so that there is still some distance between a lance 52 of thedevice which is connected to a suitable water supply 51, on the onehand, and the feed channel 31 of the package 1, on the other hand.

The protuberance 15 in the bottom 11 of the reservoir is raised andtherefore facing inwards in this phase. The bistable protuberance 15 isnow situated in its first stable position.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of the package 1 according to FIG. 1 in adevice 50 according to the invention, in a second phase of use.

The holder 55 has now moved upwards in the direction of the lance 52.The free end of the lance 52 is now projecting into the first part 32 ofthe feed channel 31. The slanting side 57 of the lance 52 has brokenthrough the part of the reservoir seal 13 which sealed the feed channel31. The water feed means 51 can now feed water to the mixing chamber 34through the feed channel 31.

The major part of the reservoir seal 13 is still intact. This preventssplashing and consequently soiling of the device 50. It is otherwiseconceivable for one or more small holes also to be pierced in thereservoir seal 13 when the holder 55 is moved upwards. This preventsundesired pressures, for example in that the package draws vacuum duringemptying of the reservoir 10. A suitable projection can be provided onthe lance 52 for this purpose, if desired.

Instead of the holder 55 moving upwards to the lance 52, it is alsopossible for the lance 52 to move downwards.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the package 1 according to FIG. 1 in adevice 50 according to the invention, in a third phase of use.

The holder 55 has now moved slightly further upwards, in the directionof the lance 52. In this embodiment the lance 52 has a collar 53, whichis preferably provided with a rubber ring 54. The collar 53 exerts adownwardly directed force by way of ring 54 upon the mixing element 30.The result is that the protuberance 15 is deformed and springs into itssecond stable position, in which the protuberance 15 is directedoutwards. The mixing element 30 is moved downwards as a result. Duringthis process the underside of the mixing element 30 pierces the sealingfilm 37 extending along the bottom of the outflow aperture 36 of themixing chamber 34.

The holder 55 has a dispensing aperture 56 through which the mixture ofliquid foodstuff or ingredient from the reservoir 10 and diluent or baseliquid can leave the device 50. The dispensing aperture 56 is preferablyso wide that the mixture does not come into contact with the device 50.Soiling of the device 50 is prevented in that way.

Through the elasticity of the material of the reservoir seal 13, theupper side of the reservoir 10 remains substantially closed in theembodiment shown, except for the hole for the lance 52. This preventssoiling of the device 50.

In an alternative embodiment the protuberance 15 can also be of anon-bistable design. This means that a force remains upon the mixingelement 30 and upon the lance 52 during emptying of the reservoir.

The invention furthermore also provides an embodiment in which, inaddition to at least one recess for the accommodation of a packageaccording to the invention, the holder 55 also has at least one recessfor the accommodation of a coffee pad. In that situation when a packagefilled with concentrated milk and a coffee pad are placed in the holdera cup of cappuccino can be prepared.

A second exemplary embodiment of the package according to the inventionwill now be explained with reference to FIGS. 5-10.

These FIGS. 5-10 show a plastic body of a disposable package 100, whichcan be filled with a portion of a liquid ingredient intended for mixingwith a base liquid for a food product suitable for human consumption,notably a beverage which can be cold or hot as desired.

Before filling, the package is preferably sterilized, and the filling ispreferably performed under aseptic conditions. In that case the packageis also sealed under aseptic conditions, so that the ingredient isprotected from the atmosphere.

A particularly interesting application is when the package is filledwith a milk ingredient, which is mixed with hot water, preferably at atemperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius, preferably not boiling, asthe base liquid, so that milk froth on top of a cup of coffee, forexample such as cappuccino, or for example on hot chocolate, can beobtained.

For example, the package is filled with a milk concentrate that remainsstable when stored at room temperature, for example milk that issterilized for 1 to 5 seconds at 116-122 degrees.

It will be clear that the package can also contain another liquidbeverage preparation ingredient or an ingredient for preparing anotherfood product, such as a soup. As already mentioned, the food product tobe prepared can also be cold, for example if the ingredient is mixedwith cold or even chilled water, possibly even carbonated water.

The food product to be prepared with the package does not have to be ina frothed form, as appears, for example, from examples mentioned earliersuch as the preparation of fruit juice.

If it is desired that little or no froth should be formed on thedispensed mixture, the geometry of the venturi portion and/or of thepassages connecting to it can be adapted. Of course, the ingredientitself also has an influence on any froth formation, and the frothformation or absence of froth formation can also be influenced byadapting the recipe of the ingredient.

It appears, for example in the case of milk froth, that the distance ofthe outflow aperture of the package from the bottom of a mug or the likeinto which the mixture is dispensed can also play a role in the frothformation. For instance, experiments seem to demonstrate that arelatively great distance leads to a large quantity of froth with fairlylarge bubbles and consequently limited stability. Reduction of thatdistance can then produce a more stable froth with finer bubbles.

For example, milk froth with bubbles which are substantially less than1.5 millimetres is obtained.

In particular, the package according to the invention and a suitabledevice can be used first to prepare a relatively thick milk froth layer,preferably over 1 centimetre thick, in a cup or the like to be used bythe consumer, and then (preferably with the same device or possibly withanother device) to prepare coffee, preferably on the basis of a coffeepad or another single-portion coffee ingredient package, which goes in ajet or stream from above onto the milk froth layer and sinks downthrough said froth layer. A thick, firm layer of milk froth isultimately obtained on the top of the coffee, so that a cappuccino isprepared. The device is possibly equipped for the preparation of a cafécrème with a thin, fine-frothed creamy layer, on top of which the thick,firm froth layer obtained with the package according to the inventionthen lies.

It is for example a possibility that the package contains a quantity ofingredient which is mixed with a certain quantity of base liquid, andthat, if all of the ingredient in the package has been discharged, baseliquid is still supplied by the device to the channel of the package.The effect is then that a relatively strong jet of base liquid goes ontothe mixture already dispensed into a cup or the like, so that themixture can be made to froth well. This was found, for example, duringthe preparation of milk froth described earlier, in the case of which,for example, 15-30 ml of milk ingredient is present in the package. Whenhot water is supplied the milk ingredient is drawn from the package in afew seconds, and said mixture can then be brought into vigorousagitation with the jet of hot water still spouting out of the channel ofthe package. The narrow passage of the venturi portion then causes thefast jet of water. This process appears to be influenced by thethickness of the layer in the bottom of the holder into which themixture is dispensed, into which layer the fast jet is then squirted.

The package 100 here has a monolithic plastic body 101, produced byinjection moulding, with a bottom 102 and a circumferential wall 103, inwhich the upper edge 104 of the circumferential wall 103 bounds anaperture. As already mentioned, the reservoir of the package 100 ispreferably filled with the ingredient through said aperture, so thatknown filling techniques can in principle be used.

After filling, said aperture is hermetically sealed by a top sealingfilm (not shown), which is fixed on the upper edge 104 on itscircumference, here to an outwardly directed circumferential flange 104a, preferably by means of a fusion weld. Such fusion welding technologyand also sealing film for this purpose are generally known in the fieldof plastic holders for food products, such as, for example, for packagesof individual evaporated milk portions, desserts etc., to be sealed withfilm.

The package 100 is preferably filled and sealed under aseptic conditionson a suitable filling machine.

The monolithic plastic body 101 has a central column 110, which isintegral with a central portion of the bottom 102, which column 110 hasa portion 110 a that projects upwards from the bottom to an upper sideof the column, and in the example shown here also has a portion 110 bthat projects below the bottom 102.

A channel 115 extends through the column 110 from an inlet 116 on theupper side of the column 110 to an outflow aperture 120 on the undersideof the column 110, and therefore on the underside of the package.

The top sealing film is breakable, preferably piercable, so that a baseliquid feed lance can be taken through said sealing film and can then beconnected to the inlet 116 of the channel 115 in the column 110, so thatthe base liquid can be fed through the channel 115 to the outflowaperture 120.

A venturi portion 130 (visible in detail in FIG. 9) is present in thechannel 115, to which venturi portion one or more passages 131 for theingredient formed in the column 110 are connected, in such a way thatwhen base liquid is passed through the channel 115 a venturi effectoccurs and the ingredient goes through the one or more passages 131 intothe venturi portion 130 and mixes there with the base liquid, whichmixture is dispensed at the outflow aperture 120 of the column 110.

The channel 115, the venturi portion 130, and the passages 131 are—as ispreferable—all fully formed during the injection moulding of the body,so that no further operations were necessary to make those parts or tofinish them.

The bottom 102 here has an annular flexible portion 140 around thecolumn 110, so that the column 110 is movable downwards relative to theupper edge of the body 101 and back up again here in an elasticallyshape-recovering manner.

The column 110 is therefore movable here between a higher initialposition (FIGS. 5-9) and a lower dispensing position (FIG. 10) relativeto the upper edge of the body, preferably with a height difference of atleast 3 millimetres.

It can be seen that the flexible portion 140, viewed in cross section,is in the form of one or more undulations, formed here by coaxialannular parts, which in this example are in each case at a higher levelfrom the outside towards the inside (in the initial position of thecolumn 110).

It can be seen that here in the initial position the upper side of thecolumn 110 lies in the plane of the upper edge 104, so that when the topsealing film is present the upper side of the column goes against theunderside of said sealing film. This makes it easier to pierce thesealing film, since the column forms a sort of counter-support here onthe underside of the film.

As explained earlier, the presence of a “seal” between the upper side ofthe column and the top sealing film is not critical, but in this simplemanner the inlet 116 is nevertheless more or less sealed relative to thereservoir with the ingredient.

It is preferable for the package to be filled with the liquid ingredientto a level at a distance below the upper side of the central column. Forthe filling technique it is also advantageous if the level of theingredient lies at a distance below the upper edge of the package.

It is conceivable for liquid ingredient to be present in the columnafter the filling and/or for the column to be relatively short with itsupper side lying at a distance below the sealing film, possibly evenbelow the level of the ingredient.

In this example it can also be seen that in the initial position theunderside of the column 110 lies in the plane of the underside of thebottom 102.

As is preferred, a bottom sealing film is provided, which sealing filmis placed along the bottom of the outflow aperture 120 on the undersideof the bottom of the package. Said sealing film 141 is visible in FIG. 6a.

The underside of the column 110 in the initial position preferably liesagainst the bottom sealing film 141.

Said bottom sealing film 141 is fixed on the underside of the bottom ina region 142 around the flexible portion 140 of the bottom. Said film141 is preferably placed already before the filling (and possiblysterilizing) of the package.

The person skilled in the art will understand that when the column 110is pressed down to the dispensing position the bottom portion 110 b ofthe column 110 goes with force against said bottom film 141 and breaks,in this case pierces, said film 141, so that the outflow aperture 120 isopened. The bottom film 141 here remains adhering to the bottom 102 inthe annular region 142.

In this example it can also be seen that the circumferential wall 103projects below the bottom 102 and has a lower edge 105 which defines animaginary flat supporting surface of the package 100, so that thepackage can be placed with the lower edge of the circumferential wallstably on a surface. In that case the bottom sealing film 141 is lyinghigher up than said lower edge 105, so that undesirable damage to saidfilm 141 is avoided, for example during handling/conveyance of thepackage when it is being filled on a filling machine.

For the stability of the body 110, co-moulded ribs 107 are provided herebetween the bottom 102 and the part of the circumferential wall 103 thatprojects downwards.

The venturi portion 130 shown has a narrow passage 132, in this example,which is adapted for milk froth, having a diameter of 0.8 millimetres,followed by a chamber 133 with a larger diameter, here of 1.2millimetres. It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that forother ingredients and/or base liquid the dimensions and shape of theventuri portion can be selected differently.

As regards the venturi portion 130, it can furthermore be seen in thisexample that from the chamber 133 of the venturi portion 130 to theoutflow aperture 120 the channel has a substantially uniform crosssection, which in any case is greater than the diameter of the narrowpassage 132. That has the advantage, inter alia, that, if the packagehas been emptied and liquid is still being fed to the channel, a fastjet is dispensed through said passage 132 and remains clear of thesurrounding wall until it reaches the outflow aperture 120, so that itis not disturbed. Said fast jet can then be used to froth, or furtherfroth, the mixture dispensed earlier.

The venturi portion 130 here lies substantially at the level of thesurrounding portion of the bottom 102, so that no “upward conveyance” ofthe ingredient is necessary and the reservoir can be emptied well andquickly. For the purpose of good emptying of the package provision ismade here for the passages 131 in the column 110 each to have an inflowaperture close to the surrounding region of the bottom.

Furthermore, one or more passages 131, in this example two disposeddiametrically opposite each other, are provided in the column 110 with acorresponding inflow aperture on the outer circumference of the column,for the feeding of the ingredient to the venturi portion. The passages131 are funnel-shaped here, viewed from the inflow aperture to theventuri portion. Furthermore, the passages 131 here are placed at anangle slanting downwards, viewed from an inflow aperture to the venturiportion.

It is pointed out that in the package illustrated only the one or morepassages 131 for the liquid ingredient connect to the venturi portion130, and not any additional passages in the column for the suction ofair to the venturi portion. That has not been found to be necessary forthe quality of the frothing, and it produces a simple construction.

FIG. 10 shows diagrammatically a lance 170 acting upon the column 110and thereby pressing the column 110 downwards to its dispensingposition.

It can be seen that the flexible portion of the bottom 140 now forms adownward-facing funnel, so that all liquid ingredient passes through theinflow apertures, which are now low down, into the passages 131.

When the lance 170 is removed again (or the package is removed from thelance), the shape-recovering flexible portion 140 of the bottom willensure that the column 110 and the surrounding flexible portion of thebottom move back again to, or at least in the direction of, the initialposition. In the process the inflow apertures now reach a positionhigher up than the surrounding bottom, so that any residue of ingredientdoes not leak out of the package through the outflow aperture 120.

For ease of placing the package in a device, provision is made for thecircumferential wall 102 to be cylindrical and for the column 110 to bedisposed on the axis of the cylindrical circumferential wall, the inlet116 of the channel 115 likewise being disposed on said axis, and theoutflow aperture 120 preferably also being disposed on said axis. Thisconcentric arrangement of the components also makes it easier to handleon a filling machine.

A system for preparation of a food product suitable for humanconsumption, notably a beverage or component of a beverage, inparticular for preparation of milk froth for a cappuccino, will now beexplained with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 shows a device 200, in this example intended for domestic use.Said device 200 has a housing 201 with a base 202, an erect housing part203 and an overhanging housing part 204. Of course, other embodimentsare also conceivable.

A holder 210 for accommodating and retaining a package according to theinvention (here, as an example, package 100) is present in the device ata dispensing position in the device. The holder 210 accommodates thepackage 100 in the normal position, with the bottom down and the topsealing film up. In particular, the package 100 rests here on its loweredge 105 on the holder. There is an aperture 211 in the holder 210 inline with the outflow aperture 120, so that the jet of mixture or baseliquid can squirt in a downward direction out of the package and thenthrough the aperture 211 into the mug 300 or other beverage holder. Saidaperture 211 is so large here that the mixture does not make contactwith the holder 210, so that soiling is prevented.

As mentioned earlier, the preparation of milk froth, in which thepackage 100 is filled with a milk ingredient, will be explained here asan example.

Facilities indicated in general by base liquid feed means are present inthe device 200, here for the preparation and feeding of hot water to thepackage 100.

A supply tank 220 for a supply of water can be seen, here a tank 220which can be removed by the user and refilled under the tap, and whichhas a self-closing valve 221 which closes when the supply tank isdisconnected from the device.

A water circuit is present in the housing of the device, said watercircuit having a system of one or more pipes, and furthermore having anelectric pump 225 and a heating assembly for heating the base liquid,here an flow-through electric water heater 230, for supplying hot,preferably not boiling base liquid, preferably hotter than 70 degrees,to the lance. If desired, one or more valves, preferably electricallycontrollable valves, can be provided in the water circuit. Instead ofbeing an flow-through water heater, the water heater could also be ahot-water boiler, or a combination of the two.

The water circuit connects to a lance 240, which is mounted, in astationary position here, on the underside of the overhanging part 204of the housing 201, said lance being situated at the dispensingposition.

As explained earlier, the lance 240 is adapted to pierce the top sealingfilm of the package 100 and to connect to the channel 115 in the column110, so that water can be fed through the lance 240 to the channel 115and thereby, on the basis of the venturi effect, the ingredient flowsthrough the one or more passages 131 to the venturi portion and is mixedthere with the water, and the mixture is dispensed through the outflowaperture 120, here to the mug 300 disposed on the base 202.

As described, provision is made for the lance 240 to act upon the column110 in order to press said column downwards and therewith also to breakthrough the bottom film 141. That requires a relative movement betweenholder 210 and the lance 240, which can be achieved in many differentways.

The device 200 is preferably provided with operable (manually,electrically or the like) displacement means which are adapted toproduce a relative movement of the holder 210 for the package 100relative to the lance 240, so that when the displacement means areoperated the lance 240 pierces the top sealing film of the package, andthe bottom sealing film 141 is also broken in the process.

In a simple embodiment the displacement means are a manuallycontrollable lever mechanism 270, for example with a handle 271 on thefront side of the overhanging part 204 of the housing.

In this example provision is made for the holder 210 to be removed bythe user, and it can then be filled with the package, after which theholder can be replaced in a carrier 250 belonging to the device.

The carrier 250 is connected to the lever mechanism 270 and can be movedup and down by operation of said mechanism.

One or more vertical guides are preferably provided in the device, whichguides guide the carrier 250 substantially in the vertical directionrelative to the housing 201.

The holder 210 can preferably be pushed from the front side into thecarrier 250, so that the consumer can first remove the holder 210, canplace the package 100 in it, and can then slide holder 210 back into thecarrier 250. Operating the handle 271 then causes the carrier 250 tomove upwards with holder 210 and package 100. The lance 240 then goesagainst the top film and pierces said film, and the column 110 is thenpressed downwards relative to the package 100 which is moving upwards.In this way the package 100 reaches the position of FIG. 10.

Putting into operation the feed of hot water to the lance 240 now leadsfirst to a mixture of ingredient, in this example milk, and the hotwater being dispensed into the mug 300. When the package is empty, a jetof hot water is squirted at high speed, notably because of the narrowpassage of the venturi portion, through the package 100 into the mug,and onto the milk and water mixture dispensed earlier, which jet isthereby formed into a stable milk froth of high quality.

After dispensing, the carrier 250 can be moved down again by operatingthe mechanism 270, and the holder 210 can be removed and the emptypackage 100 thrown away.

During the dispensing there has been no contact here between the jet ofmixture and the device, so that no soiling occurs. The channel 115 ofthe package has been flushed out by the stream of water, so that no milkcan drip out there either. Furthermore, when the carrier 250 moves downthe column 110 is moved up again by the shape-recovering portion 140, sothat any residue in the package does not reach the passages 131 if thepackage is kept more or less straight.

As mentioned earlier, it is furthermore conceivable to arrange anadditional preparation and dispensing assembly in the housing of thedevice for the purpose of preparing, on the basis of a secondingredient, which differs from the ingredient in the above-mentionedpackage according to the invention, a second, different food productsuitable for human consumption, for example a beverage or component of abeverage, for example for coffee.

The additional preparation and dispensing assembly preferably has acorresponding dispensing orifice for dispensing the food productprepared on the basis of the second ingredient, which dispensing orificeis preferably situated near the outflow aperture of the first package,in the dispensing position of said package, (or can be taken into thatposition if the dispensing orifice is movable), in such a way that a mugor other holder into which the streams from the first package and thedispensing orifice are dispensed does not need to be moved, and can thenreceive both streams (in succession, simultaneously or with a certainoverlap in time). This mutual distance is preferably no more than 5centimetres.

An appropriate embodiment of the device is for preparing coffee withsaid additional preparation and dispensing assembly. With the firstpackage, which is preferably designed according to the invention, milkfroth can then be made, and the coffee can be prepared subsequently withthe additional station, which coffee can then flow through the froth, sothat a layer of milk froth is produced on the coffee, as in the case ofa cappuccino.

The additional preparation and dispensing assembly can be adapted, forexample, for preparing coffee based on coffee beans, in which case agrinding device for the beans is provided.

The additional preparation and dispensing assembly is preferably adaptedfor accommodating and retaining a second package filled with the secondingredient, for example a coffee preparation ingredient.

The second ingredient is preferably intended for combination with thesame liquid as the ingredient in the first package, for example withwater (hot water), in which case the additional preparation anddispensing assembly is connected to the liquid feed means and isequipped to dispense the second ingredient combined with the liquid.

The second package is preferably a disposable package filled with asingle portion of the second ingredient, for example a coffee pad or ametal cup filled with a coffee ingredient, or a cartridge or the like.The second ingredient does not, of course, have to be liquid, dependingon the ingredient and the second package, and may, if desired, be inpowder form or in another form.

The second package is, for example, a package already available on themarket, examples of which are the coffee pad, a plastic cartridge, ametal capsule, a flexible sachet etc. Such packages clearly differ fromthe package according to the invention. It is also conceivable for apackage according to the invention likewise to be filled with the secondingredient, in which case it is then preferable to make at least thedimensions of that package different, so that the user does not make amistake.

As will be explained below in detail with reference to an example, thesecond package can be a coffee pad, in which case the system furthermorecomprises a coffee pad holder part, the device having a correspondingpart which forms a chamber with the coffee pad holder part whencontiguity has been achieved, said chamber having an inlet for feedinghot water to it and an outlet for coffee, possibly an outlet adapted forcreating coffee with a relatively thin, fine-frothed creamy layer.

It is preferable to provide a common carrier, which forms the holder fora first package with a first ingredient, preferably the packageaccording to the invention, and for a second package containing a secondingredient. In that case both packages are preferably disposablepackages. For example, the second package is a single-portion coffeepreparation package, for example a coffee pad. In that case it ispreferable for the common carrier to be equipped to accommodate a coffeepad holder part containing a coffee pad.

In a possible embodiment the additional dispensing assembly of thedevice is adapted for the preparation and dispensing of a beverage, suchas coffee, or another food product, on the basis of a second ingredientwith which a second package is filled, which second package is in theform of a storage package, i.e. contains second ingredient for a numberof preparations. This can be, for example, for coffee machines for usein businesses etc. For example, the beverage, such as coffee, is made onthe basis of a second package with a supply of an extract for mixingwith water, stored in a suitable package (bag-in-box or the like).

In a possible embodiment provision is made for the device, with orwithout additional preparation and dispensing assembly, to contain amagazine for accommodating in it a number of packages according to theinvention, as well as an automatic feed mechanism for removing onepackage at a time from the magazine and feeding it to the dispensingposition in the device if preparation of a food product on the basis ofsaid package is desired. Such magazines and feed mechanisms are known inthe field of beverage preparation machines and can be adapted to thepackage according to the invention by the person skilled in the art.

FIG. 12 shows diagrammatically a variant of the holder 210, which herehas an accommodation recess 213 for a package according to theinvention, for example package 100, and an accommodation recess 214 fora coffee pad, in this example for a removable coffee pad holder part inwhich or on which the coffee pad (or a number of coffee pads stacked)can be placed.

Making coffee on the basis of a coffee pad and the technical componentsof the device to be used for this purpose are generally known, forexample from EP 904 717 and WO 03/026470, in which it is attempted toprepare a beverage similar to cappuccino.

In addition to the lance 240, the device 200 also has a part 320 whichtogether with the holder 210 forms a chamber (when the carrier 250 hasbeen moved up) around the coffee pad(s), which chamber is connected tothe water circuit. In this way hot water can be fed under limitedpressure to said chamber, and coffee can be prepared. Said coffee thenflows through a pipe 215 to one or more dispensing orifices 216, 217 ofthe holder 210.

It can be seen that the one or more dispensing orifices 216, 217 aresituated so close to the aperture 211 that all streams out of or throughthem open into the mug 300 or the like.

FIG. 13 shows very diagrammatically the holder 210 of FIG. 12 withpackage 100 and with a coffee pad 310 placed on a part 311 which theuser places in the holder 210 (in accommodation recess 214).Furthermore, the lance 240 is shown, as is the part 320, which togetherwith part 311 forms a chamber around the pad 310 when the carrier 250 inwhich the holder has been placed has been moved upwards. As pointed out,much is known in the field of coffee preparation with a pad andcorresponding parts, inter alia from the patent literature. Theinclusion of one or more details in the device according to theinvention will be achievable for the person skilled in the art.

The water circuit now comprises one or more electrically controllablevalves 235, here between the heater 230, on the one hand, and the lance240 and part 320, on the other hand. Said one or more valves 235 make itpossible first to feed hot water to the lance 240 and after a milk frothlayer has been formed in the mug 300 to make coffee by feeding saidwater to the chamber containing the pad 310. Said coffee then goes ontothe froth and sinks through it.

The holder 210 is preferably made of plastic and is dishwasher-safe.

The holder 210 here is provided with one or more positioning elements,holes 218 in this case, which can interact with complementarypositioning elements of the housing of the device in order in this wayto ensure the correct position of the holder relative to the lance 240and any chamber-forming part 320 (this being, for example, in connectionwith the seal at the chamber for the coffee pad).

It will be clear that the displacement means for the carrier 250 canalso be of an electrical type.

It will be clear that the carrier 250 could also be dispensed with, andthe holder 210 could be connected directly to a suitable displacementmechanism of the device.

In a variant of the device shown diagrammatically in FIG. 14 provisionis made for the lance 240 to be disposed so as to be movable, movable upand down here, preferably connected to a flexible hose 241, and to bemovable by means of corresponding first displacement means 242 of thedevice. The holder 210 for the package 100 (and any other package in theholder) here is likewise movable, movable up and down here, by means ofcorresponding second displacement means of the device, in this examplealready explained with reference to FIG. 11. For use of the system theuser first operates the second displacement means, so that the holderand the package in it and retained by it move to the dispensing positionin the device. In the version also having a coffee pad holder part thatmovement causes the chamber to close around the coffee pad. The userthen operates the first displacement means 241, which move the lance 240in such a way that the lance connects to the channel. The firstdisplacement means can be electrically driven here, so that operating abutton puts said means into operation, suitably followed by switching onof the pump and the water heater. It is also conceivable for thehydraulic pressure of the water, when the pump 225 is switched on, toput a suitable actuator, for example a bellows, into operation to movethe lance.

It will be clear to the person skilled in the art that instead of acoffee pad, the system and the device can also be equipped toaccommodate another portion package with a suitable ingredient, such asa beverage preparation ingredient, for example a flexible sachet or aplastic cartridge made up of several components, for example of the typebeing put on the market under the brand name Tassimo or, for example, ametal capsule, for example of the type being put on the market under thebrand name Nespresso. As is known, Tassimo cartridges, made up ofseveral components, are available not only filled with a coffeeingredient, but also with a chocolate ingredient for preparing hotchocolate. The invention can then be used to make milk froth.

It is also conceivable for a device which accommodates only the packageaccording to the invention to be produced, for example in order first tomake a quantity of milk froth in a mug at home. Coffee or anotherbeverage can then be made using a separate device, for example a coffeepad device or another device of the type mentioned here, and the coffeeor other beverage is then dispensed into said mug. Such a deviceaccording to the invention could then have a small supply tank forwater, for example with a capacity of no more than 250 ml, so that thedevice can be made small and takes up little space.

FIG. 15 shows an alternative package 1000 according to the invention,which works together with a lance 2400 of a device (not shown in anyfurther detail) and together with that device forms an alternativesystem.

It will be clear that all kinds of details of the package have alreadybeen explained, which details can be used separately or in combinationsif desired on the package described above. The device can in principlebe designed largely in accordance with devices described earlier, aswill be clear to the person skilled in the art.

The package 1000 shown is filled or can be filled with a portion of aliquid ingredient which is intended for mixing with a base liquid forthe preparation of the food product. A top sealing film, which ispierced by the lance 2400, is preferably provided.

The package 1000 has a body with a bottom and a circumferential wall,the body furthermore having a column 1100, which is connected to apreferably centrally situated portion 140 of the bottom, which column1100 has a portion which projects upwards from the bottom to an upperside of the column.

In the version shown the portion 140 of the bottom is flexible, in sucha way that the column is movable, preferably elastically movable,downwards and possibly back up again.

A channel extends through the column 1100 from an inlet on the upperside of the column to an outflow aperture 120 on the underside of thecolumn.

Unlike preferred embodiments shown earlier, the column 1100 in this caseis not provided with a complete venturi portion, but provision is madefor said venturi portion to be fully formed in the lance (not shown), orfor the venturi portion (and possibly also the one or more passagesconnecting to it) to be formed by the interaction of the bottom portionof the lance with the adjacent portion of the column (see FIG. 15).

The device (not shown in any further detail) furthermore comprises aholder for accommodating and retaining the package at a dispensingposition in the device and base liquid feed means, of which the lance2400 disposed at the dispensing position forms part.

As can be seen, the lance 2400 can be placed in the inlet of the channelin the column 1100, so that the base liquid can be fed through thechannel.

It can be seen that the underside of the lance 2400 together with anadjacent part of the column 1100 forms a venturi portion to which one ormore passages 130, formed in the column here, connect in such a waythat, when base liquid is fed through, a venturi effect occurs and theingredient passes through the one or more passages into the venturiportion and mixes there with the base liquid, which mixture is dispensedat the outflow aperture 120 of the column.

It will be clear that this makes a simple design of the packagepossible.

1. Disposable package filled with a portion of an ingredient intendedfor mixing or diluting with a base liquid for the preparation of aliquid food product suitable for human consumption, the disposablepackage comprising: an injection moulded monolithic plastic body with abottom having an underside and with a circumferential wall, an upperedge of the circumferential wall bounding a filling aperture, whereinthe filling aperture of the filled package is hermetically sealed by atop sealing film, a circumference of the top sealing film being fixed onthe upper edge, wherein the bottom has at least one outlet aperture forthe liquid food product and a piercing portion on the underside of thebottom, the monolithic plastic body further comprising a central columnintegrally moulded with a central portion of the bottom, the centralcolumn having a portion that projects upwards from the bottom to anupper side of the central column, through which column a channel extendsfrom an inlet on the upper side of the central column, wherein the topsealing film is pierceable, so that a base liquid feed lance can bepierced through the top sealing film and connected to the inlet of thechannel in the central column, so that the base liquid can be fedthrough the channel into the package to mix with or dilute theingredient therein and to obtain the liquid food product, wherein thebottom has an annular flexible portion around the central column, suchthat the central column is movable downwards by a force exerted thereonrelative to the upper edge of the circumferential wall of the bodybetween a higher initial position and a lower dispensing position,wherein the package has a bottom sealing film, which is placed along theunderside of the bottom to hermetically seal the at least one outletaperture, wherein a circumference of the bottom sealing film is fixed onthe underside of the bottom around the flexible portion of the bottom,wherein the bottom sealing film is pierceable and is placed so as to beengaged and pierced by the piercing portion of the bottom when thecolumn is moved down to the lower dispensing position thereof, saidpiercing of the bottom sealing film allowing dispensing of the liquidfood product from the package.
 2. Package according to claim 1, in whichthe annular flexible portion around the central column has, viewed ineach vertical section, the form of one or more undulations.
 3. Packageaccording to claim 1, in which the upper side of the central columnrests against the top sealing film when the central column is in thehigher initial position.
 4. Package according to claim 1, in which thebody of the package forms a supporting surface of the package, whichsupporting surface lies at a distance below the bottom sealing film, sothat the bottom sealing film lies higher than any bearing surface whenthe package is placed on it.
 5. Package according to claim 4, in whichthe circumferential wall projects below the bottom and has a lower edgewhich forms the supporting surface of the package, so that the packagecan be placed with the lower edge of the circumferential wall in astable position on a bearing surface and the bottom sealing film in thiscase lies higher than said bearing surface.
 6. Package according toclaim 1, in which the body has on the upper edge of the circumferentialwall an outwardly directed circumferential flange on which the topsealing film is fixed.
 7. Package according to claim 1, in which theflexible portion is an elastically shape-recovering flexible portion. 8.Package according to claim 1, in which the package contains a liquidbeverage preparation ingredient.
 9. Package according to claim 8, inwhich the channel has a venturi portion, and wherein the central columnhas one or more passages that are connected to the venturi portion, insuch a way that when base liquid is fed through the channel, a venturieffect occurs and the liquid ingredient goes through the one or morepassages into the venturi portion and mixes there with the base liquid,which mixture is dispensed via an outlet aperture.
 10. Package accordingto claim 1, in which the circumferential wall, the central column andthe inlet of the channel are concentric relative to an axis of thepackage.
 11. Package according to claim 1, in which the package issterilized before filling, and contains a liquid milk ingredient. 12.System for the preparation of a food product suitable for humanconsumption, which system comprises: a) a disposable package filled witha portion of an ingredient intended for mixing or diluting with a baseliquid for the preparation of a liquid food product suitable for humanconsumption, the disposable package comprising: an injection mouldedmonolithic plastic body with a bottom having an underside and with acircumferential wall, an upper edge of the circumferential wall boundinga filling aperture, wherein the filling aperture of the filled packageis hermetically sealed by a top sealing film, a circumference of the topsealing film being fixed on the upper edge, wherein the bottom has atleast one outlet aperture for the liquid food product and a piercingportion on the underside of the bottom, the monolithic plastic bodyfurther comprising a central column integrally moulded with a centralportion of the bottom, the central column having a portion that projectsupwards from the bottom to an upper side of the central column, throughwhich column a channel extends from an inlet on the upper side of thecentral column, wherein the top sealing film is pierceable, so that abase liquid feed lance can be pierced through the top sealing film andconnected to the inlet of the channel in the central column, so that thebase liquid can be fed through the channel into the package to mix withthe ingredient therein, wherein the bottom has an annular flexibleportion around the central column, such that the central column ismovable downwards by a force exerted thereon relative to the upper edgeof the circumferential wall of the body between a higher initialposition and a lower dispensing position, wherein the package has abottom sealing film, which is placed along the underside of the bottomto hermetically seal the at least one outlet aperture, wherein acircumference of the bottom sealing film is fixed on the underside ofthe bottom around the flexible portion of the bottom, wherein the bottomsealing film is pierceable and is placed so as to be engaged and piercedby the piercing portion of the bottom when the column is moved down tothe lower dispensing position thereof, said piercing of the bottomsealing film allowing dispensing of the liquid food product from thepackage, b) a device, the device being at least provided with: a holderfor accommodating and retaining the package at a dispensing position inthe device, a base liquid feed assembly with a base liquid feed lancedisposed at the dispensing position, which lance is equipped to piercethrough the top sealing film of the package and to connect to thechannel of the package, so that base liquid can be fed through thechannel into the package to mix with or dilute the ingredient therein,wherein the device has operable displacement means which are adapted toproduce a movement of the holder for the package and the base liquidfeed lance relative to each other, so that when the displacement meansare operated the lance pierces the top sealing film and connects to thechannel, the base liquid feed lance pressing the central columndownwards from the higher initial position to the lower dispensingposition thereof and thereby bottom sealing film being pierced by thepiercing portion of the bottom, said piercing of the bottom sealing filmallowing the liquid food product to be dispensed from the package. 13.System according to claim 12, in which the liquid feed assembly isequipped for feeding in water as the base liquid.
 14. System accordingto claim 12, in which the liquid feed assembly comprises an electricheating assembly for heating the base liquid.
 15. System according toclaim 12, in which the liquid feed assembly comprise a pump for the baseliquid.
 16. System according to claim 12, in which the lance isstationary mounted in the device, and in which the displacement meansare equipped to move the holder towards the lance and away from it, insuch a way that in the process the lance connects to the channel of thepackage.
 17. System according to claim 12, in which the lance isdisposed so as to be movable and is movable by means of correspondingfirst displacement means of the device, and in which the holder for thefirst package is likewise movable by means of corresponding seconddisplacement means of the device, in which during use of the system whenthe second displacement means are operated the holder and the packageaccommodated and retained in it move to the dispensing position in thedevice, and in which when subsequently operated, the first displacementmeans move the lance in such a way that the lance connects to thechannel.
 18. System according to claim 12, in which the holder for thepackage is equipped to accommodate and retain the package in asubstantially horizontal position with the bottom downwards, the holderhaving an aperture below the bottom of the package in such a way thatduring dispensing of the liquid food product said food product remainsclear of the holder.
 19. System according to claim 12, in which at adistance below the dispensing position of the holder the device has astanding place for a mug.